Healthcare Systems Are Complex Adaptive Systems

Healthcare Systems are Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) because they are heavily influenced by both internal and external environmental factors. Healthcare institutions have a large number of stakeholders, which encompass individual health consumers to larger groups such as public, private, and federal payers. Institutions are further influenced by local, state, and federal regulations. With so many relationships at play, the healthcare system remains an unpredictable high-risk environment.
Over the last decade there has been a growing interest to improve the quality and safety of health care in the U.S. The Institute of Medicine largely spearheaded this effort when it identified a significant link between medical errors and flawed system processes
Governing bodies and policy makers, for example, may want to provide equitable and cost-efficient care, where as consumers desire individualized care that is safe and comprehensive. Sturmberg, O’Halloran, and Martin refer to individual stakeholder interests’ as health care system attractors (2012). They also use a metaphor to describe the healthcare system as a CAS. In their example, the health care system is compared to the vortex that forms in tub water after the drain’s plug is pulled out (Sturmberg et al., 2012). The drain plug is considered the attractor because the act of pulling the plug attracts water to the drain or to a single point of focus (Sturmberg et al., 2012). Sturmberg et al. (2012) go on to explain that if the vortex is disturbed it has the ability to regain its original shape. However, the closer to the apex the disruption occurs the greater the effect on the vortex. Similarly, a healthcare system’s vision represents its attractive force and the organizations interactions with the internal and external environment represent its vortex. According to Strumberg et al. when an organization’s the attractor is “people’s experience of health” true patient-centered care is achieved
(2012) can be used to describe the human faith. For Christians the Lord is the “attractor” of life. This belief is supported by Matthew 6:33 which states “but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” and also by Matthew 22:37 which says “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (KJV). Christians face many internal and external threats to their faith each of which can have varying degree of implications. The more important the relationship is to the person the greater the impact they have on their life. Therefore the loss of a loved one, for example, can disrupt both their personal and work life. As nurse leaders we must understand that staff, patient, and peers are affected by many factors and that these internal and external factors can impact their personal and professional